One of the best things about our friendship is, like many of you, we send each other an obscene amount of reels. Most of them pertain to our friendship or making the other laugh, however, sometimes it’s photo inspiration.
I, Michelle, was hanging out at my old apartment last year when my phone went off. It was a message from Brittany on Instagram saying, “I really want to do a shoot like this.” It was a romantic video of a couple laying in each others’ arms at the edge of the water on a beach with the waves spraying behind them. And the photos were magical!
We started making some plans to figure out how to get this shoot as a reality in our lives. Something to note here is that I (still Michelle) really don’t care about much as long as it’s for a photo. Need me to wear crazy make-up? Cool! Need me to be somewhere early, even though I prefer to sleep until 10 am? No problem! Let’s go to Lake Michigan in July for a sunrise session in the water?! I. AM. IN.
After finding the perfect little skirt and top option from Target, I was sure that I was going to get the best looking photos and it was July, so naturally it was going to be very warm and fun to play in the water. Wrong. It was actually some of the coldest water I’ve ever personally been in, which caused much of the genuine laughter in the photos as the waves crashed into us.
After getting up before the sun to drive to the Indiana Dunes National Park, I wasn’t getting in that ice bath alone. My partner was right there with me, also shivering. Although we were freezing, it was fun and even a little cozy as we laid on the beach in front of my best friend and her little sister. We all had so much fun, and genuinely laughed the entire morning.
As I said earlier, there’s very little I won’t do to get the perfect photos, but as photographers, this is also true! To get these photos, Brittany was literally right beside us in the water too, guiding us and snapping some sultry shots. When my partner didn’t want to get into the water, she even helped me push him in. She was also my personal hairstylist helping me get all of the sand out of my hair. A quick dunk under the water and then many hair shakes later, we got some of our favorite shots. We call them "The Ariel and Prince Eric Moment.”
Enough of my story though!
Here is why I think that you should absolutely do a romantic beachside couple’s shoot this year!
- The sunrise and stillness of the beach before anyone else is there is truly magical. Picture this: there is no one else for miles, which means you and BAE can literally use your imaginations on how to utilize the beach backdrop for your photoshoot. You can take your partner’s hand and take a stroll on the beach, get a little cuddle in, or even just take a moment to take a deep breath together. Either way, you are going to have a blast having such beautiful scenery to gaze at, and we will be there in the shadows making sure to capture every moment.
- Water is restorative. There is something very healing about water. It’s a great place to reconnect even if you feel very connected. The stillness of the water, the gentle breeze and the sunrise is like no other. It has a calming effect and allows people to be in the moment with their partner.
- Authentic Photos- When you are trying something new for you and your partner there is something very organic and authentic about the photos that are captured. With you being at peace and relaxing together, you will be surprised that your images will show your emotions. Some of my absolute favorites are when my partner had me in his arms, the water was rushing in, and I was just so cold. He would hold me just a little tighter. And the images – breathtaking.
- It’s a fun, romantic date. If you are also up for anything and are wanting a fun, romantic date, this is for you! Getting up early, you’ll be able to watch the sunrise over the water and share some quality time with your partner. We recommend getting some coffee afterward! Go into the shoot with the mindset that you want to enjoy your partner and have so much fun. We will make sure to capture the best moments of you two together. These are the memories that fade away so quickly.
If you are looking for what to wear, check out our style guide where we talk in detail about how you can create a cohesive style that works for you and your partner or family. And if you are looking for some other fun inspiration peep our blog post for a Best Friends Photoshoot.